Arknights' Lock of Heaven

"Although Kronin is rebellious, he is still useful. The kid who replaced him is much worse."

Hei stood respectfully behind him and said, "With some training, they'll eventually come in handy."

“Perhaps,” Herman said, looking at her like this. He hesitated for a moment, then sighed and said nothing.

The past events had a huge impact on her. To be honest, Herman has truly raised Hei as his daughter all these years.

But the habits formed from working under those mercenaries in the past made her always see herself as a servant.

Hermann knew that this was what Ceylon hated most about him; she guessed that in Ceylon's eyes, he treated Black no differently than he treated his subordinates.

He wanted to make changes, but didn't know where to start. You could tell by looking at his relationship with Ceylon. This man's ability to raise children was completely inversely proportional to his administrative abilities.

He would be very grateful if Ceylon could correct this blackness.

"Blackie, do you remember how old you were when you came to kill me?"

Looking back, Herman's expression was complex, tinged with nostalgia and melancholy.

"Twelve years old, sir."

Hei's voice remained as steady as ever.

“Ah, yes, twelve years old,” Herman laughed, recalling the scene. “A twelve-year-old assassin, haha. If you hadn’t given up yourself, I’m afraid I would have really fallen for you.”

“Sir, as I’ve told you before, child killers are a fairly common tactic,” Black replied seriously. “They can effectively lower the target’s guard.”

"I know, I know, thanks to you, now I can tell who the killer is at a glance."

Herman quipped, "Like that guy over there in the beachwear, he's looking around and wearing sunglasses, he looks like an assassin."

“He’s not trained, and he’s probably just looking at the women around him.”

Hei's expression remained serious, but his words clearly carried a hint of emotion.

"Is that so?" Hermann was stunned.

"I'm sure."

“It seems my judgment still needs some work,” Herman said, shrugging. The thick skin he had developed over the years of political intrigue was finally coming in handy.

"I'm here to help with this," Hei said, lowering her head slightly.

"Aren't you leaving now?" Herman smiled helplessly.

"The master doesn't want me to leave?" Black raised his head and looked at Herman's back.

"No, quite the opposite."

Herman turned to look at the black figure.

"Darkness, for years, there has been a problem that has been bothering me."

"What is it?" Hei asked, puzzled.

“It’s your future,” Hermann said calmly.

Hearing this, Hei turned his head away, "...I don't think there's anything you need to worry about."

"That's why it's black, that's why it's black."

Hermann's face was full of vicissitudes. "I often feel that you are like my third arm, always there when I need you and never having to worry about you when I don't."

"But that's not right, you're not my tool."

"At least I've never thought of it that way."

Hearing this, Blackie's expression was complicated. "Just now, Charlie said something similar."

“Ha, this young man has potential,” Herman chuckled.

“This is my choice, sir, and I don’t think there’s anything wrong with it,” Black stubbornly raised his head and looked at Herman. “You gave me the life I have now, and even if you drive me away, I won’t leave.”

"Sigh, you're quite stubborn about this."

Hearing this, Herman felt somewhat helpless.

Similar conversations have happened countless times, and almost every time it ends with me giving in.

Black is just too stubborn.

"However, I've watched you grow up. Others may not understand you, but I do know that you genuinely feel that this is the best way to live."

“Sigh,” Herman said with a complicated expression, “I’ve always treated you like another daughter, Black.”

Hearing this, Hei lowered his head.

"……Yes."

“When I talk to those big shots, they often complain that they want what’s best for their children, but the children never want to follow the path they’ve designed for them.”

Herman turned to look at the sea in Siesta.

“At times like this, I always think, I’m lucky. I have a daughter, and although we don’t get along well, she’s considered a well-bred lady in their eyes. I don’t need to worry about my daughter at all.”

"I don't have that problem at all."

"Isn't this a good thing?" Hei asked, puzzled.

"This way you can focus on building Siesta."

“No, at least not to me,” Hermann replied calmly. “I used to think so too.”

"But I'm tired now, Black."

"The new urban area is almost completed, and residents can move there after completing the necessary procedures."

"I told that Rhodes Island doctor that the nominal Siesta will continue to exist on this land."

Hermann's face was full of nostalgia, "But I didn't tell that doctor that Siesta in my heart is gone."

"The Siesta that I made a promise to Barbara, the Siesta that I built for her, will eventually be abandoned by me."

Hearing this, a hint of sadness appeared in Hei's eyes.

In a way, Herman, who was willing to give everything for Siesta, was an extremely pure person.

"That's... something we can't help it with."

Black's expression was complicated. "After all, it was a natural disaster..."

Yes, that was a natural disaster; it was beyond human control.

"No, I should have a way. How could I not have one?"

Herman looked sadly at the city he had built.

“After Barbara passed away, I made building this city my goal, and I did everything I could to achieve it.”

"I have transformed an obscure, independent city into the tourist destination it is today, and I have enabled the people of this city to live a good life."

"But now we're abandoning it for such a simple reason."

Hermann turned around and looked intently into the darkness.

"I know there are some things in this world that are beyond my reach, but I can't just accept them without a clear conscience!"

Hearing this, Hei lowered his head.

The master has always been a rather obsessive person.

She had known this for a long time.

“I’ve even had a thought these past few days.”

Herman looked back at the beach and said blankly, "Since I can't solve it, then at least let it solve me, otherwise I'm afraid I'll never have a peaceful life."

"Once the relocation to the new city is complete, I will move a chair here by myself, sit on this beach where Barbara and I made our promise, facing the sea where I buried her."

"Then, he took his own life."

"No!" Hearing this, Hei said solemnly, "Master, I will stop you."

"Don't worry, the fact that I've said it means I won't do it."

Herman laughed heartily.

“…You can’t do this for Miss’s sake,” Hei breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this.

"You're wrong about that."

Herman turned around and looked deeply into Black's eyes. "If there's one reason I can't die, it's because of you, Black."

Hearing this, Hei turned his head and said, "Miss doesn't dislike you that much."

Seeing her avoidance, Herman felt like a parent seeing a stubborn child.

"Never mind, this is fine as it is."

"Moreover, I'm not too worried about Ceylon's future. My daughter is very lucky; she will never have a bad life. I will give her whatever she wants."

"But I'm too worried about you."

Herman sighed, "Parents always want their children to have a better life, Black."

"Only the most decadent old men will keep their children by their side, hoping that they can always be under their control."

"As for me, I would rather you were all too busy with your own careers to come and see me when I die!"